Missouri State women's basketball coach Kellie Harper is ready for Saturday's opening day of preseason practice after a whirlwind six months since taking over the Lady Bears program.

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Since being announced in April as the new coach of the Missouri State women's basketball team, Harper has assembled a staff, pounded the recruiting trail, relocated to Springfield from North Carolina and discovered that she and husband Jon are expecting their first child.

Now, as the calendar turns to October, Harper will prepare for her first preseason practice with the Lady Bears. The team gets started Saturday, trying to rebound from a 14-17 season that saw a continued dip in attendance and a first-round loss in the Missouri Valley Conference ...